Unsound smoke alarm fails to activated during deadly home fire in Mirandela, claiming lives of six elderly residents
In the small town of Mirandela, a fire at the Misericórdia Home has left six elderly residents dead and 25 injured, with five of them in critical condition. The municipality has declared three days of mourning in the wake of this devastating incident.
The cause of the fire is believed to be a short circuit in an anti-scar burn, but the investigation is still ongoing. The tragedy has raised serious concerns over the fire safety system at the home, as the fire alarm did not go off during the incident and some of the extinguishers were found to be ineffective.
Adérito Gomes, the director of the institution, confirmed that the extinguishers were working and were recharged at the prescribed and mandatory times. However, Paulo Pereira, a witness to the fire, was only able to use one of the three extinguishers he picked up to try to put out the fire.
The failure of the fire alarm to function properly is a critical deficiency in early detection and warning, enabling timely evacuation and intervention. The inconsistent operation of fire extinguishers points to potential issues with equipment condition, accessibility, or staff training in using them correctly.
These problems imply that the fire safety system at this facility did not meet expected standards at the time of the incident. This raises concerning questions about compliance with fire safety regulations, routine inspections, maintenance protocols, and staff preparedness.
The Judicial Police are currently investigating the case, and four of the deceased bodies were taken to the Institute of Legal Medicine in Mirandela, while two were taken to the Institute of Legal Medicine in Bragança.
When Paulo Pereira heard dogs barking, he went outside and realized what was happening, reporting that he did not hear any alarm - he only saw "the ladies screaming" and "very black smoke". Despite the chaos, Paulo Pereira tried to help and managed to get "three people" out of the facilities.
According to the cameras of the home, which have already been analyzed, it was possible to see that the staff made a round 10 minutes before smoke started coming out from under the door of the room where three residents who ended up dying were.
For the safety of vulnerable residents, a thorough review and urgent rectification of the fire safety infrastructure and procedures are likely needed. The investigation will continue to uncover the full extent of the failures that led to this tragic event.
- The incident at the Misericórdia Home, a health-and-wellness facility for the elderly, has prompted concerns about the facility's fire safety system, as the fire alarm didn't activate, and some extinguishers were ineffective.
- Mental-health issues may arise due to this general-news incident, as survivors and family members of the victims cope with the trauma of the fire.
- Incidents like the one at the Misericórdia Home underscore the importance of regular safety inspections, maintenance, and staff training to prevent future accidents and ensure the safety of all residents, especially the elderly.
